Fire extinguisher systems



April 19, 1960 H. w. @REAR 2,933,139

FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEMS Filed April 4, 1958 5:9 56 /542 54 55 444g M7 5f4\ 32 53 .5f 52 45 043 [5 l .20 55 |"1"\ 53 23 I M2 INVENTOR Hurrel W. O'Rear 4 www ATTORNEY United States Patent O FIRE EXTINGUISI-IER SYSTEMS Harrel William ORear, Dallas, Tex.

Application April 4, 1958, Serial No. 726,530

9 Claims. (Cl. 169-9) This invention relates to lire extinguisher systems and more particularly to a re extinguisher system employing dry chemicals as the lire extinguishing agent.

An object of this invention is to provide a new aud irnproved -iire extinguisher system. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved re extinguisher system employing a dry chemical powder as the tire extinguishing agent.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved lire extinguisher system having a plurality of individual means for discharging a tire extinguishing agent at predeterminedlocations.

` A further object of the invention is to provide a tire extinguisher system having a plurality of individual units located at dilerent hazardous locations and having a control system operable from a central location whereby the individual units may be selectively individually operated to extinguish res at such locations.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved iire extinguisher system having fire extinguisher units, each of the individual yfire extinguisher units including a reservoir of a fire extinguishing agent and a bottle of pressurized, preferably inert, gas for discharging the agent over a predetermined area.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved re extinguisher system wherein the discharge duct of the reservoir containing the `lire extinguishing agent is comparatively short, since the lire ,extinguisher units are located adjacent the hazardous areas.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved tire extinguisher system having a plurality of re extinguisher units located at selected positions `in a structure to be protected against fire and having an electrically operable control system for selectively ac'- tuating individual tire extinguisher units from a central location. p

A further object of the invention is to provide a control ysystem for a re extinguisher system having a central operating station from which individual lireextinguisher i units of the system may be actuated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new `and improved control system `having signalling means for `Igiving signals to indicate which fire extinguisher units are tinguisherunits located at predeterminedspaced locations -wherein each individual tire extinguisher unit comprises a tank `of dry powdered lire extinguishing agent, a tank or bottle of pressurized gas for discharging the powdered fire extinguisher `agent from the tank through a nozzle,

for controlling the ow of pressurized gas from the bottle into the tank.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a re extinguisher unit having a tank of dry powdered fire eX- tinguisher agent and a bottle of pressurized inert gas for discharging the powder from the tank over a predetermined area through a suitable nozzle wherein the tank and the bottle may be easily recharged with the agent and the gas, respectively.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a re extinguishing system having a plurality of individual spaced fire extinguisher units wherein each lire extin Figure 1 is a fragmentary, partly schematic view of one tire extinguisher unit of the lire extinguisher system embodying the invention and the control system for controlling the operation of individual lire extinguisher units;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a discharge` nozzle for discharging the tire extinguisher agent over the predetermined area;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the discharge nozzle shown in Figure 2, with certain portions broken away; and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical control system of the ire extinguisher system illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the tire extinguisher system 10 includes a plurality of iire extinguisher units 11 which are individually controlled yfrom a central control station 12. f

Each fire extinguisher unit 11 includes a closed tank l14 having an inlet 15, hermetically closed by a stopper 16, through which a dry powder re extinguishing agent, such as bicarbonate of soda, may be introduced into the tank. A discharge duct 18 extends through a suitable inlet nipple 20 into the interior of the tank 14 and has its open inlet end 21 disposed adjacent the bottom of the tank 14. A discharge gas duct 23 extends into the upper end of the tank 14 through a suitable nipple 24 and has a lower end 25 which opens adjacent the upper end of the tank.

It will be apparent that when gas under pressure is forced into the tank 14 through the discharge gas duct 23, the powdered fire extinguisher agent will be forced upwardly into the discharge duct 18 through its open lower end 21 and thence to a conduit 30 one of whose ends is rigidly and hermetically secured to the discharge duct 18 through suitable iittings 32. A discharge nozzle 34 is connected to the other end of the discharge conduit 30 by a suitable coupling or itting assembly 35. The discharge nozzle 34 is secured to any xed structure, such as a ceiling 36, by means of screws 37 and nuts 38; over an aperture 39 provided therein whereby the fire extinguisher agent is discharged downwardly over a pret determined area disposed beneath the fixed structure 3,6

and 'a valve means disposed b etweenfthe bottle and tank and the discharge nozzle 34.

A gas under pressure, preferably an inert gas such as nitrogen, is supplied through the gas discharge duct 23 from a tank or bottle 42, which serves as a reservoir of pressurized gas, through a valve 44 ywhose outlet 45 is connected to the inlet of the gas discharge duct 23 by a connecting conduit 46. The connecting conduit may include an elbow 47 and individual conduit sections 48 and 49 connected by suitable coupling 50. The inlet 52 of the valve 44 may be connected to the outlet 53 of the bottle spaanse 42 by means of.V a manifold block 54 and. a connecting conduit 55. The conduit 55 may include conduit sections 56 and 57 connected by a coupling 58. The manifold block V'54 may beconnected between the outlet 53 and the conduit section 56, and also has connected thereto a pressure 'gauge 154, a. filler valve stem 254 through which the nitrogen or other gas is passedunder pressure into the gas reservoir or bottle 42, and a pressure relief, safety or pop-oit valve 354 which serves to prevent overcharging of theY 'bottle by releasing gas pressure in excessiof a predetermined pressure within the bottle.

The valve 44 may be of any suitable type operated by ai solenoid 60. The valve 44 is normally closed and is opened when the solenoid 60 is energized by being connected to a suitable. source of electrical power.

It will now be apparent that when the bottle 42 is iilled Vwith gas under pressure and the tank 14 is filled with a powdered tire extinguishing agent, energization of the solenoid 60 will cause the gas to flow through the manifold block 54, the valve 44 and the conduits 55 and 46Y t'othe gas conduit 23 andthence-into the upper'end'ot tlretank'1`4. Theincrease in pressurev in the tank 14 will cause. the powderedire extinguishing agent to be. forced into the discharge duct 18 and through the discharge conduit 30 to the discharge nozzle 34 which causes the fire. extinguishing agent to be distributed or diffused over a predetermined' area.

The Vtire extinguishing agent is of such nature that. it extinguishes any fires located in the predetermined area. The re extinguishing action of the agent is due to its heat insulating characteristics. The burning materials are coated with the dry powder tire extinguisher agent and are also surrounded by a cloud or heat barrier of the heatinsulatingagent. In addition, the decomposition of. thev iirst extinguisher agent results in the generation of gases which will not support combustion, such as carbon dioxide gas.

' AThe nozzle 34 includes a body 62 having Van annular mounting flange 63 provided with apertures 64 through which the Vscrews 37 may extend. The body 62 is of substantially tubular form and is provided intermediate its ends with a spider62a having a threaded aperture 62b for receiving an adjusting screw65 which supports. an adjustable plate 66 in the lower aredV portion 67 of the nozzle body. It will be apparent that the adjustable plate is' provided with an annular beveled shoulder 68 whose inclination' corresponds to that of the flared portion 67 of the nozzle body so that clockwise rotation of the screw 65 causes the shoulder 68 to approach the beveled ared portion 67 of the nozzle body and thus provide for an adjustment of the annular space existing there` between. In this manner the velocity of flow of the mixture' of gas and fire extinguisher agent, and therefore the area over which it is discharged by the nozzle 34, may befvaried or adjusted. The upper end of the nozzle body is provided with a reduced internally threaded portion 70 which is adapted to receive the externally threaded lower portion of the fitting 35 whereby the nozzle may bev connected to the discharge conduit 30.

The control station 12 includes a console or cabinet 74 having a front panel 75, which may be inclined rearwardly and upwardly. The front panel is provided with lamps 76, one for each tire extinguisher unit 11, for indicating when each fire extinguisher unit 11 is in operation and a plurality of switches 77 for individually and selectively energizing each of the solenoids 60 of the tire .extinguisher units 11. The reference numerals of the lamps,` the switches and the solenoids of each tire ex tinguisher unit 11 have been provided with identical subscripts to indicate that they respectivelyl indicate and. control the operation of that re extinguisher unit.

. The control station 12 is also provided with a master switch 80, whose actuation is indicated by a lamp82, for Aoperating simultaneously all of the iire extinguisher units. The cabinet 74 also contains a'transformer 84 which is extending into the cabinet through a suitable aperture in one side thereof. The front side S8 of the cabinet 74 is provided with a lamp 89 which isenergized whenever the plug 86 is connected to a source of current to indicate that the control station 12 is energized and operative. A gong or buzzer 92, Figure'4,` isalso disposed within the cabinet 74 .and is energized whenever any one of the switches are energized to give an auditory signal to indicate that one or more of the fire extinguisher units is'in operation. Itwill be understood, of course, that the gong or buzzer 92 may be disposed at a considerable distance from the control station 12 if so desired. In this case, the gong 92 would be connected to the circuit contained within the cabinet 74 by suitable leads.

Referringnow particularly to Figure 4 of the drawing, it will seem .that the power conductors 100 andv 101 ofthe cord' 85 are. connected to the; input. terminals of the transformer 8f4. The transformer 84 operates as a stepedown transformer, its ouputy lines 102. and 103. being energized with a voltage which is lower than that of the source of: alternatingcurrent to which theplug 86 connects. the input conductors 100 and 101. Each of the. switches 77 is a double-pole single throw switchv having movable contacts 105i and 106. Each solenoid 60 has one side connected to. the low voltage line 103 through a-conduc tor 107, the stationary contact 108, the movable contact 106 of its switch 77 when the latter is in closed position, and a conduit 109. The other side of each solenoid 60V is connected to the other low voltage line 102 through a conductor 112, a fuse 113 and a conductor 114. It willY thus be apparent that when any of the switches 77 is moved toV closed position, itsY associated solenoid 60 will be connected across the low voltage lines 102 and 103'.

Each of the lamps 76 is connected across the low vo1tage lines-102 and. 103, whenever its associated switch 77 is closed, through the conductor 109, a conductor 116 which connects the movable contacts 105 and 106, the movablecontact 105, the stationary Contact 117, and the conductors 118, 119 and 120.

The'master switch 80 is similarly a double-pole, single throw switch having movable contacts 120 and 121. The

movable contact 121 is connected to the power line 103 while its stationary contact 124 is connected by means of a conductor 125 to the conductors 107 of the solenoids The` other Vsides of the solenoids'60 are directly con nected tothe conductor 102 by a =fuse 126 and the con#V Y ductor 127 which is connected to the conductors 112. It will thusA be apparent that when the movable contact 121 is moved to its closed positionwherein it engages Vthe stationary contact 124, allv of the solenoids are connected in Y parallel across the conductors 125 and 127 and, therefore,

rthe conductor 130 to the other' low voltage line 103 through the conductor 132. Thus it will be apparent that when thev master-switch 80 is moved to closed position,

the master switch bulb 82- will be connectedl across the vl'owvoltage lines 103 and' 102 and will indicate that the lmaster switch' is'inclosed position and that allfsolenoid valvesare"energized.l The gong' or buzzer 92 is connected in seriesy in the line l103A and will sound whenever anyone ofithe switches 77 or`80' is closed. t

Itv will nowl be seen that a new and improved'reV exltinguisher system has been illustrated and described which includes a plurality of re'cxtiugui'sher units 1-1 located at desired locations in any 'structureorother facility having spaced areas which are hazardous or which have to be protected against re.

It will further be seen that each of the lire extinguisher units 11 is a self-contained unit having both a reservoir 14 of a dry powder lire extinguisher agent and a supply of gas under pressure for driving or discharging the agent from the reservoir to a discharge nozzle which causes the agent to be spread over a predetermined desired area. It will further be seen that the iiow of the gas from the bottle 42 to the reservoir 14 is controlled by a solenoid 60 operated valve 44.

It will also be seen that the operation of the valves 44 is controlled from a central control station by means of an electrically operated control'system. and that the control system includes a plurality of switches whereby each of the re extinguisher units may beindividually and selectively placed into operation from the central control station. It will further be seen that an indicator means, such as the lamps 76, are provided to indicate which of the lire extinguisher units are in operation.

It will also be apparent that the control system includes a master switch which places all of the lire extinguisher lunits into operation simultaneously and that the master switch is also provided with an indicator means, such as the lamp 82, for indicating when the master switch is in closed position and all of the lire extinguisher units are in operation.

It will further be seen that the control system for the lire extinguisher system includes a plurality of switches each operatively associated with one of the re extinguisher units whereby the iire extinguisher units may be selectively placed in operation from a central control station 12. It will also be seen that the individual control switches connect the solenoids 60 of the individual lire control units to a source of electrical energy to cause the valves 44 to open whereby the selected Vtire extinguisher units are placed in operation, and that the control system includes a master switch for connecting all of the solenoids 60 to the source of electrical energy simultaneously whereby all of the lire control units are placed in operation simultaneously by the energization of all solenoids 60.

It will also be apparent that each tire extinguisher unit may be recharged with gas through the filler valve stem 254, when the gauge 154 indicates that the pressure thereof has fallen below a desired value, and with the lire extinguished agent through the inlet 15 in the reservoir 14, without placing the other units out of operation.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A re extinguisher system comprising: a plurality of separate re extinguisher units located in spaced relationship to one another, each of said units comprising a reservoir of dry powdered re extinguisher agent, means for forcing said agent from said reservoir and a means for discharging said agent over a preselected area; electromagnetically operated valve means controlling said means for discharging said dry powdered fire extinguisher agent; and a control system having a control station operatively electrically connected to each of said electromagnetically operated valve means for selectively opening said valve means for discharging said dry powdered tire extinguisher agent from said selected unit, thereby placing individual units into operation, said control system having a common conductor means connecting all of said electro-magnetic valve means of said separate units with a master control means for simultaneously placing al1 units in operation.

2. A tire extinguisher system comprising: a plurality of sepaatere extinguisher units located in spaced rela' tionship to one another, each of said units comprising a reservoir of dry powdered ire extinguisher agent, means for forcing said agent from said reservoir anda means for discharging said agent over a preselected area; electromagnetically operated valve means controlling said means for discharging said dry powdered lire extinguisher agent; and a control system having a control station operatively electrically connected to each of said electromagnetically operated valve means for selectively opening said valve means for discharging said dry ,powdered fire extinguisher agent from said selected unit, thereby placing individual units into operation, said control system having a common conductor means connecting all of said electro-magnetic valve means of said separate units with a master control means for simultaneously placing all units in operation, and also including signal means for indicating when each of the tire extinguisher units is in operation.

3. A` tire extinguisher system comprising: a plurality of separate re extinguisher units, each of said lire extinguisher units comprising a iirst container for holding a reservoir of dry powder re extinguisher agent; a second container for holding a gas under pressure; conduit means connecting said containers; valve means for controlling ow of gas through said conduit means, said first container having a discharge duct whereby when said valve means is open the gas under pressure causes the agent to be discharged from the rst container through the discharge duct; a discharge nozzle having an adjustable annular orifice providing a substantially conical discharge path; and a conductor from said discharge duct of said first container to said nozzle; said valve means for controlling low of gas through the conduit means between said lrst and second containers comprising the sole control of discharge of lire extinguisher agent from said unit through said nozzle.

4. A lire extinguisher system comprising: a plurality of separate lire extinguisher units, each of said iire extinguisher units comprising a irst container for holding a reservoir of dry powder re extinguisher agent; a second container for holding a gas under pressure; conduit means connecting said containers; valve means tor controlling llow of gas through said conduit means; an electromagnetic operator for actuating said valve means, said lirst container having a discharge duct whereby when said valve means is open the gas under pressure causes the agent to be discharged from the first container through the discharge duct; a discharge nozzle having an adjustable annular orifice providing a substantially conical discharge path; and a conductor from said discharge duct of said first container to said nozzle; said valve means for controlling iiow of gas through the conduit means between said first and second containers comprising the sole control of discharge of tire extinguisher agent from said unit through said nozzle; remotely controlled electric power means for actuating said electromagnetic operator for said valve means.

5. A tire extinguisher system of the character set forth in claim 4 including: signal means operatively connected with each of said electrically operable means for actuating said electro-magnetic operator for said valve means for giving a signal whenever said electrically operable valve operating means is energized.

6. A fire extinguisher system comprising: a plurality of separate remotely positioned tire extinguisher units, each of said fire extinguisher units comprising a lirst container for holding a reservoir of dry powder lire extinguisher agent and a second container for holding a gas under pressure; conduit means connecting said containers; valve means for controlling ilow of gas through said conduit means, said iirst container having a discharge duct whereby when said valve means is open the gas under pressure causes the agent to be discharged from the first container through the discharge duct; a discharge nozzle to said nozzle; said valve means between said containers comprisingthe-s'ole controlV over discharge of re extingu-isherl agent from said nozzle; and electrically Voper-- able meansflfor actua-ting said valve means from a remote' location, said-electrically operable means including a" 10 solenoid means' adjacent each valve means and switch means remote from said unitsY for selectively` connecting each of said solenoid means tok a source of current to open said v valves.

7. A fire extinguisher system of the character set forth in claim 6 including: a common conductor means connecting al1 of said; solenoid means; and a master switch meansrin saidy corrnnon conductor for simultaneously connecting all of the solenoid means to a source of electric current ato open2 'all orf-said` valves simultaneously.

'8; `A rey extinguisher system of the character Vset 'f orth in elfailnl 6 including:Y aY signal means mQerati-velyassociated with each of said switch means and energized? therebysimult'aneously with said solenoid means. f 9. A ire extinguisher system of theA character set forth in claim 7 including: an electrically operable signal means connected with each of said switch means for givinga signal whenever any of said switch means are actuated to energize any of said solenoid means.

References Cited in the iile of this patent i UNITED STATES PATENTS 

